Aljand Highlights Texas A&M Recruiting Class

COLLEGE STATION, Texas, USA, June 17. FIVE more athletes have signed letters of intent to compete for Texas A&M, giving the Aggies one of their best recruiting classes in history. Leading the way is Triin Aljand, a 30-time national champion from Estonia and 10-time national-record holder.

Aljand has been an international fixture for her homeland at recent major meets. At the 2004 World Short Course Championships, Aljand was ninth in the 50-meter butterfly and took 12th place in the 50 backstroke. She was 15th at the 2003 World Champs in the 50 fly and should provide an immediate spark for the Aggies in the sprint events. Aljand competed in the 50 freestyle at the Athens Olympics.

“Triin is definitely a world-class sprinter,” said coach Steve Bultman. “We are excited to see someone like her come into our program. We know she will help us immediately. We feel she can get even better and we will do everything we can to help her do that. That is always one of our top priorities with each swimmer, and it will be one of our main goals for her for the future.”

Christine Marshall, from Menchville High, will also bolster the sprint groups, as the Virginia native won a state title in the 100 free in 2004 and was a regional champion the last three years in the 100 free and 100 butterfly. Also recruited were Kylee Robinson (San Antonio, Texas), Tracey Renfrew (Schertz, Texas) and Kendall Smelser (Katy, Texas).